Battle Mage: Dragon Mage (Tales of Alus)

by Wigboldy, Donald

  “Orlerin’s on the move again. Come on everybody.”

  Cheleya noted that the inner city, which was only a few blocks deep in a space formed between the inner wall and the black stone inner keep, was also lighter in foot traffic. She still held Colbie’s hand, but it was more for emotional security than the need to keep together.

  A stone walled building a few stories tall and very wide was their destination. Soldiers guarded the entry, but Orlerin motioned to Kel’lor saying, “Our friend needs to see a healer. He’s been poisoned and needs attention.”

  The guards were there more for assistance than security for the building apparently as the lead guard sent his second into the building and returned with two healers. One wore the yellow robes of a full wizard, while the second wore white with yellow striping as an apprentice. The apprentice began to chant a spell as he put his hands on the poisoned gargoyle’s arm.

  “We were told that he has been poisoned. Is there more information like how he has been poisoned?” the woman in yellow was of middle age and they hoped that meant she had put in enough years to be skilled enough to help Kel’lor.

  Everyone seemed to turn their eyes on Cheleya, despite her being youngest of them all. The girl felt the need to speak anyway so it was that she tried to explain, “We had an encounter with some of the Dark One’s creatures and one used magic to attack my brother. Kel’lor,” she pointed at the sick man, “used magic armor to protect his body, but the creature apparently infected his magic with his spell. Now I can find no illness in his body, yet he continues to get weaker and his fever won’t leave.”

  The wizard asked, “You are a healer then?”

  “A novice, but I think my senses are correct. Look,” she added exposing the strange tattoo branding on Kel’lor’s chest. “This appeared almost five days after the battle. He hadn’t used his magic very much, but a few times of using simple magic suddenly had him sick.”

  The healer could tell that the little blond was worried and getting more so as she spoke. “We will do everything we can for him,” the wizard nodded and began to herd both the sick man and the apprentice into the building that served as a hospital for the wizards of Hala.

  Cheleya could tell from the rushed whispering that the apprentice was confused by the strange symptoms as well and feared that maybe even these well trained healers might not be able to save her friend. Unsure of what to do, the girl stood wanting to follow as well, but the wizards hadn’t told her to follow.

  “Do we just leave him here?” Cheleya asked the others.

  It was Colbie who patted the petite blond on the shoulder saying, “Well, let’s give them time to check on him. We can come back later after we find a place to stay.”

  The mage’s eyes half inquired of the guards as she said the words intended to comfort the girl. At a brief nod from the man in charge, Colbie turned Cheleya and asked Orlerin, “Do you have that covered as well?”

  “Sort of,” Orlerin replied as he began to lead the group away from the building.

  Despite Cheleya’s worried looks back, the girl began to follow her new friends trusting that they knew what was best. This world was too foreign for the dragoness to have the answers that she wished she had. Kel’lor was sick, poisoned, and in the care of strangers. The girl knew that there was nothing else she could do for now but trust.

  As they moved off from the healer’s clinic, Orlerin clarified a bit more, “The falcondi gave me papers to bring along to use at the embassy. I am hoping that either they can put us up there or settle us in an inn. Though it would be a step up from sleeping out in the cold, I would rather not find out we can’t get a room beyond some stable and a bed of hay.”

  “Oh, a bed of hay does sound pretty good right now,” Evantus said pretending to romanticize the idea. “The smell of horses all around and the prickly hay beneath, what more could a battle mage want?”

  Orlerin smiled and stated, “If I had known I could leave you in a stable, it would probably cost us less and certainly be a lot quieter.”

  Shaking her head, Colbie added, “But you’d be in trouble for cruel treatment of the horses then, Orlerin.”

  Nodding agreement, their leader said nothing, while the rest smiled at the apparent wounding of Evan’s pride. Even Cheleya could tell that the mages were merely having fun at each other’s expense and probably in an attempt to brighten the girl’s mood. In their relationship, each served a purpose and at times Evantus served as the comedian and butt of the jokes. He often set the others up to make fun of him, so the dragoness assumed that he enjoyed the treatment. Such camaraderie was less often found among her people, but she had always had a similar relationship with Kel’lor and Mor’treya. Neither of the mar’goyn’lya had the sense of humor that these humans had though, she thought, as she tried to smile at their antics despite her worries.

  Another large building, that wasn’t far from the hospital, had more guards in front of it, though these were apparently there to serve as what they appeared to be. Again, after showing his papers, the men were helpful in getting them started as one man let them into a large foyer while a second soldier ran off into the depths of the mansion size home of the ambassador of Staron.

  Soon an older man with gray hair appeared. His uniform must have had some meaning, but it escaped the dragoness who had spent most of their wait looking around at the paintings lining the large hall. Men painted to look very authoritative and official stared out from the canvas and Cheleya even noticed that many of their eyes seemed to follow her as she wandered to the next.

  The guard watching them kept moving his eyes to watch the pretty girl, but not because of her beauty as much as he worried over her touching something that she shouldn’t. Expensive vases and antique furniture decorated the area thanks to ambassadors with expensive tastes. Politics weren’t part of Cheleya’s teachings, so she knew little of them and the expense of the items would have surprised her as well. The dragoness had rarely seen paintings and no one valued vases in Mar’kal as far as she knew.

  “Come with me,” the major domo ordered looking down his nose at the group. A rag tag squad of battle mages and a girl dressed in black pants exposing her calves with a green blouse and leather cloak, though pretty, were of little concern to such a man. Even the earth wizard in her brown coat and pants couldn’t draw any respect from the head servant of the ambassador.

  Colbie took Cheleya by the hand as if she were a child that would get into trouble amongst the high society, but the dragoness didn’t mind. Holding hands had been one of the more comforting things that she found that she could do as a human. Che’ther didn’t hold hands, though she had seen a few intertwine tails.

  Her attention was pulled back to the man they followed as a large pair of doors was pulled aside to allow them to enter a grand, opulent office where a small group of people already appeared to be having a party to Cheleya’s eye. It was still the afternoon, so she wondered what made these humans go against the norm when others would be working.

  A plump man, his mustache groomed to curl and his graying brown hair looking immaculate, as did his silk clothing, looked at the rough group and threw on a fake smile that was almost flawless. Cheleya could see that his eyes betrayed the boredom and dislike for dealing with the commoners despite his attempt. While the dragoness didn’t know the feelings specifically, she could see that he wasn’t happy to see them in truth.

  Chapter 16- Heleneva’s

  Walls were hung with draperies and artwork all around as the five members of Cheleya’s group entered the ambassador’s fancy combination of office and entertainment room. A small party was eating from a fancy buffet where the food was set on gold platters and silverware was real silver. Cups of porcelain held tea for those who wished a warm drink while crystal goblets held expensive wines and harder liquors appreciated by the rich and refined pallets, though being rich didn’t necessarily mean they appreciated them beyond their cost.

  “So mages, wizard, what is it th
at you expect from me? My guests and I have other things to do today so be direct since my time is limited,” the man with his curly mustache and thin beard gestured with his left hand while the right held a crystal goblet with a red liquid that was most likely wine. His cheeks were a little rosy as well and that was a trait running through most of his guests despite the time of day. They had been working on the wines for awhile apparently.

  Orlerin held his orders from the falcondi in Televal and started to offer them to the ambassador. “We have papers allowing a break while we await a new wizard for our team and were given permission to come to Hala to see the tournament. Since it was all last minute, we were hoping that perhaps the embassy had rooms or knew of an inn where we could stay for an inexpensive price.

  Two women and a man dressed in clothes similar to the ambassador began to laugh with the elder statesman. “You came last minute and expect to find an inn now? Over half the inns in the city had reservations sent from the participating cities and countries reserving their rooms weeks ago and more have come last minute taking the rest.

  “I have some political power sure, but it doesn’t extend to inn keepers.”

  “Well, then perhaps there would be guest rooms in the embassy that we could use if there are no other places to stay, Lord Lothran?” the mage followed up using the ambassador’s title and name having expected a similar answer. While the ambassador’s attitude was a little surprising in his rudeness, Orlerin calmly sought to find a solution for his team.

  Gesturing to the elder of the two women, who was still younger looking than the graying ambassador, Lothran stated, “My wife, Lady Rotras, has given away our guests rooms to these folk here. They contacted us weeks ago to let us know they were coming for the tournament. Winter’s Edge seems to have garnered huge interest and support from around the world and not just from Southwall’s king, you know. As ambassador, it was my job and Ambassador Brelleth’s as well,” he added a gesture to the slightly younger, taller man who mimicked his elder’s clothing, “to make sure our guests who are nobles were well take care of. Now how can I suddenly give away rooms to you, a battle mage suddenly dropped on my doorstep, when they reserved with messages from kings and lords?”

  Orlerin pretended to care and held his chin, as if contemplating the man’s words. Surprising the ambassador’s and their wives, the mage said with a shrug, “I guess that you are right, though if Ambassador Brelleth’s office is anywhere near the size of this one, perhaps we could simply roll out our sleeping rolls there? We have been sleeping in tents on the prairie in the snow for most of the week, so I am sure a warm office would be fine.”

  Looking a bit alarmed at the idea, the assistant ambassador leaned closer to Lord Lothran and said, “Perhaps we could use our influence with the inn keeper at the Two Circles Inn. They aren’t that expensive and if they haven’t sold out they do owe us for sending them business.”

  “And we would be more business,” Evantus mumbled for the closest to hear.

  The two ambassadors missed the comment, but seeing the younger man looking uncomfortable with the mage’s idea, he nodded and said to Orlerin, “Perhaps Two Circles will have an available room or can bump a reservation that hasn’t arrived. They may not be able to house you through the whole tournament, but we can at least try for the night.”

  The youngest woman, Brelleth’s wife, was a pretty blond with intelligent looking eyes and she noted Tilana as the men spoke and heard them capitulate under the pressure exerted by the mage. “Maybe this wizard could enter the tournament to help support Staron? We have too few of our wizards attending, a mere handful, and she appears like a strong one. If she’s on the portal squad, that usually means they are quite skilled since not just any wizard can work in small groups against what they might find. An inn would almost have to take a wizard in the tournament even if it is the last moment.”

  Brelleth glanced between the ambassador and his pretty trophy wife, and looked ready to reprimand the younger woman, but Lady Rotras brightened at the idea. “Yes, she should join the tournament. I am sure that she can fight well. As long as she uses magic that isn’t banned from the contests, she could participate.”

  Caught off guard, the wizard started to protest, “But I haven’t practiced for a wizard’s duel in years.”

  “You can duel and know combat magic, correct?” Lord Lothran asked seeming to assume that the answer had to be yes. “You will join and that will give you the leverage to find a pair of rooms I am sure.”

  The man quickly moved to his desk and heated some wax while he jotted a message on a sheet of parchment. After rolling it up, he used the wax and his ring to seal the document. “There, that will help with the inn. Come back in the morning so we can get you registered, wizard...”

  “Tilana,” the woman responded looking a little pale at the idea of having to join the tournament as a participant.

  “Then it is settled. Your little group had better get moving before it is too late. I can’t guarantee the inn will help you out, but they do owe us,” the plump lord said in satisfaction as the fingers of his right hand twirled his mustache.

  Before they could be shooed away, Colbie moved closer to the younger ambassador’s wife. “Could you recommend a place where we could buy some women’s clothing? You obviously have excellent taste and my cousin here,” she gestured to Cheleya, “would like to add to her wardrobe. She has money enough for something nice.”

  After having the compliment make the attractive blond smile, her blue eyes warmed to the red headed mage. “If you have the money, then Heleneva’s might be what your friend would want. They have everything and can make almost anything that they don’t have already. If you tell them Caraly Antoinear sent you, they should be very helpful. They also alter clothing, though your friend has some of the best fitting clothing I have ever seen.”

  Colbie smiled and said, “Cheleya is a wizard capable of using spells that you won’t see very often.” She gestured to the dragoness, who quickly gathered that she was to demonstrate for the lady.

  Running her finger along the seam of her loose fitting, yellow sleeve, the dragoness split the material like a sharp knife for six inches. Then the girl closed her fingers over the material knitting the sleeve back together as if nothing had ever happened.

  Caraly’s eyes widened along with the others watching the spectacle. “Amazing, if you are as talented in other magic, then maybe you should be in the tournament as well. Though I admit knitting clothing is hardly a combat skill, your skill with this kind of magic is unusual as the battle mage said.”

  Shaking her head, Cheleya replied, “I am afraid that I would be classified as a mage and not a wizard. I know little of how they duel.”

  The scent of Cheleya had reached the ambassadors and their wives. As they talked, they seemed to notice the girl more and warmed to the dragoness. Lord Lothran smiled as he informed the group, but looked at Cheleya specifically, “I hear that there will be a battle mage from Southwall joining the tournament, so it is not against the rules. Of course, if you can’t duel within their rules with the proper magic, then I guess it wouldn’t work either.” He looked slightly disappointed that the girl couldn’t join the tournament as well, Cheleya thought.

  Gathering Cheleya by the arm as Colbie noticed the strange change among the ambassador’s, the battle mage said in parting, “So three blocks to the west then?”

  The blond woman nodded adding, “Heleneva’s.”

  Retreating from the mansion while it was still early enough to find the inn and hopefully book their rooms, the team was soon on the street in front of the building. Colbie said to Orlerin, “I am going to take Cheleya to this tailor or whatever the store might be, while you can check into the inn situation.”

  Looking a bit confused, the man rebutted, “Yes, what was that about anyway?”

  Crinkling her nose looking uncomfortable with the question, she confessed, “She needs proper sleep wear. I am not sleeping next to a naked girl t
onight.”

  Evan grinned, “I will!”

  Punching him in the arm very hard, Colbie glared at the young mage who began rubbing his arm from the unusually brutal punch. He was used to the woman striking him when he annoyed her, since it was the friendly love they showed for each other; though if he thought about it the abuse usually was one sided. “You will not be corrupting the girl, idiot.

  “So anyway, unless Tilana would like to join us, I am stealing Cheleya away to buy her some proper under clothes and sleep wear. I figured the ambassador’s trophy wife would know of a nice place to look, since she obviously knows how to dress. This one,” she pointed at the dragoness in her charge, “probably wouldn’t be satisfied with just anything so a place catering to higher end tastes should have what she’ll wear.”

  The dragoness wasn’t sure if she should protest against the many things said, especially the last.

  Separating from the men, the women left Orlerin and Evantus to carry all but Cheleya’s pack, which had the money in it and would carry the new clothes with the old. With Kel’lor’s added to Colbie’s, Evan looked like a pack mule trying to juggle three large packs following Orlerin. The girls ignored his discomfort and complaints and went in search of the clothing store before they closed up shop for the night.

  “You know that Cheleya probably doesn’t need the best clothing. With her magic, she can probably make whatever she wants with ease for little cost,” Tilana stated as she followed Colbie and Cheleya.

  The battle mage noted that the wizard had been quick to leave the men to go shopping. “If you thought that, then why did you come along?”

  Blushing slightly in embarrassment, Tilana confessed, “When will I ever get the chance to shop in a foreign city again? We don’t usually get much choice in what we wear anyway, so I thought that it might be fun.”